Loudspeaker unit



Oct. 19, 1937. A. MOORE 2,096,192

LOUDSPEAKER UNIT Filed July 1., 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7' IN E TOR. w f- W Hsfon lv. I"\ 0OPe BY W ATTORNEY Oct. 19, 1937. MOORE 2,096,192

LOUDSPEAKER UNIT Filed July 1, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Hsfon L. Moore .BY q 9 Q2 x9 ATTORNEYj Patented ct. 19, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to loud speaker units and primarily to such units for use in public address systems where it is desired to broadcast the words of a speaker in all directions from the loud speaker, although it is of particular value in certain types of radio reproduction work.

The objects of the invention are:

First, to produce a new and improved loud speaker unit. 7

Second, to produce such a unit which may be hung in a place exposed to the elements without injury to the unit.

Third, to provide such a unit which is of simple, inexpensive construction which may be'hung in any desired position and from which the sound is directed to all points of the compass and is further directed so as to be audible to a great number of persons located near the speaker.

Fourth, to provide such a unit in whichthe sound emanating from the diaphragm is spread in all directions by a simple bafile means.

Fifth, to produce such a speaker which may be used in radio reproduction work and in which the sounds reproduced are spread to all parts of a room in which the speaker is employed.

Other objects and advantages pertaining to details and economies of construction and operation will appear in the description to follow. Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichi Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a loud speaker unit embodying my invention and suitable for public address 'work.

Fig. 2 is a view of the same speaker partly in section showing the arrangement of the parts therein.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the speaker unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of a different form of loud speaker embodying my invention shown partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a view of the speaker shown in Fig. 5 supported in a manner different from that shown, in Fig. 5. I V

In Figs. 1-4 of the drawings, I show a form of my loud speaker unit particularly adapted for outdoor public address systems. A baflle I having a substantially central aperture 2 is provided. The bafile I may be made of pressed wood or any other suitable material and is preferably round in contour. A dome-shaped cover member 3 is provided and this is fastened to the baffle above the aperture 2 and covering said aperture by bolts 4 passing through spacing lugs 5 which space the bottom of the cover member 3 from the top of the baille. An annular flange 6 extends upwardly from the battle inside of the cover member 3 and to a height greater than the opening between the cover member and the bafile. The object of this arrangement is to protect the loud speaker unit I, which is mounted inside the battle, from the elements, A hook 8 is provided at the top of the cover member 3 for supporting the speaker unit from any suitable hanger.

The loud speaker unit which is not shown in detail is a standard loud speaker unit having a conical diaphragm 9. This diaphragm is disposed with its concave side directed toward the opening 2 in the baflle and the edge of the unit I is fastened to the baifie by suitable screws I0 so that the baille willprevent the cancellation of sound through the vibration of the diaphragm and the sound waves sent out from the rear thereof.

Directly below the conical diaphragm is a conical deflector I I which is substantially the same shape as the conical diaphragm. This deflector II is located on the axis of the conical diaphragm 9 and has its apex directed toward said diaphragm. The deflector I I is disposed in spaced relationship to the diaphragm 9 and has at its edge a baille I2 which is joined thereto. A supporting frame consisting of the radial supporting members I3 which are fastened to the radial members I4 by screws I5 are provided. The radial members I 4 lie on top of the battle I and the screws extend through the baflle and into the radial supporting members I3. The members I3 hold the baflle I2 parallel with the baflie I and in spaced relationship thereto. It will be noted that the baflie I2 is smaller than the bafile I which permits the sound waves to be directed somewhat downwardly by the baflle I as they leave the loud speaker unit. The baflle I2 is fastened by the bolts I 6 to the radial supporting members I 3 and a screw threaded socket I1 is provided at the junction of the members I3 to receive any suitable screw threaded support which it may be desired to insert therein.

A perforated screen 24 between the baflles I and I2 other objectionable matter.

In employing the loud speaker unit, the sound waves directed downwardly by the loud speaker unit are deflected by the conical deflector II and pass between the baffles I and I2 and are directed to all points of the compass. The larger bafile I tendsto direct the sound waves more or less downwardly as they leave the unit so that a broadis provided extending to exclude insects and cast from the speaker to a crowd will more effec tively reach all members of the crowd.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I show a slightly modified form of my device for use in public address systems. The baffle lei is provided with an aperture i112 and a cover member 583 which is, in this instance, the shape of a halfsphere. The supporting member Hi3 is provided on the cover it and a supporting member 2638 is provided for supporting the speaker in the position shown in Fig. 6. The cover member M3 is provided with a plurality of apertures iii to relieve air pressure created through the operation of the loud speaker unit iii? which has the conical diaphragm I99 disposed at the aperture 32 and connected thereto. At the bottom of the baiile Nil and disposed over the aperture E02 therein is a second cover member is. This cover member is half spherical in the construction shown. It is provided with a plurality of apertures 213 whose total area is greater than the area of the diaphragm I09 of the loud speaker unit. A baflie HI is supported in the member E9 and is disposed with reference to the conical speaker diaphragm H39 just as is the conical deflector H with reference to the conical diaphragm 9 of the loud speaker unit in the structures shown in'Figs. 1-4, that is, on the same axis spaced therefrom and with its apex directed toward said diaphragm I09. The baffle member it! is supported by the cover members it and it. These are provided with flanges 2i and 22 which are joined together by bolts 23.

It will be appreciated that when this loud speaker is in use, the deflector HI deflects the sound waves created by the diaphragm 109 so that they are spread out to all points of the compass and are directed more or less downwardly by the bafiie I!!! to reach the larger portion of the audience.

It will be appreciated that although loud speakers of the type here described are suitable for public address systems, they are also very well suited for reproduction of radio broadcasts and that when such a speaker is in use reproducing radio broadcasts the broadcast is directed to all parts of the room in which the speaker is used.

I have shown and described my preferred constructions and wish to claim the same broadly and specifically as pointed out in the following claims. f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Thecombination of a baflie having a substantially central aperture, a cover member disposed above and covering said aperture and having its edge spaced from said bailie, means fastening said cover member and bafiie together, a loud speaker disposed in said cover member and having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said bafiie, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baffle, a flange extending upwardly from said baffle around said speaker unit and spaced inwardly from said cover member, a conical deflector of substantially the same. shape as the conical diaphragm disposed on the same axis as and spaced from and having its apex directed'toward said diaphragm,'a second baflle extending from the edge of said deflector and parallel with and spaced from said first named baffle, means for supporting said baiiie and said deflector in position, and supporting means fastened to said cover member.

2. The combination of a baiile having a substantially central aperture, a cover member disposed above and covering said aperture, a loud speaker unit disposed in said cover member having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said baiile, meansconnecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baflie, a conical deflector of substantially the same shape as the conical diaphragm disposed on the same axis as and spaced from and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, a second baflie extending from the edge of said deflector and parallel with and spaced from said first named baflie, and means for supporting said baffle and said deflector in position.

3. The combination of a baffle having a substantially central aperture, a loud speaker unit having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said bafile,

means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baffle, a conical deflector of substantially the same shape as the conical diaphragm disposed on the same axis as and spaced from and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, a second baffie extending from the edge of said deflector and parallel with and spaced fromsaid first named bafiie, and means for supporting said baflie and said deflector in position.

4. The combination of a baflie having a substantially central aperture, a loud speaker unit having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said baffle, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baffle, a conical deflector of substantially the same shape as the conical diaphragm disposed on the same axis as and spaced from and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, and means for supporting said deflector in position.

5. The combination of a baffie having a substantially central aperture, a cover member disposed above and covering said aperture, means fastening said cover member and baflie together, a loud speaker unit disposed in said cover member and having a concave conicaldiaphragm disposed at and directed: toward said opening in said baffle, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said bafiie, said cover member being apertured for the relief of air pressure therein, a second cover member disposed below and covering said aperture and fastened to said bafiie, a conical deflector supported in said second cover member and on the same axis as and substantially the same shape as said conical diaphragm, said deflector being spaced from said diaphragm and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, a plurality of apertures in said second cover member and having a total area at least as great as the area of said diaphragm, and means on said first mentioned cover member by which it may be hung. 7

6. The combination of a baffle having a substantially central aperture, a cover member dis-v posed above and covering said aperture, means fastening said covermember and. baffie together, a loud speaker unit disposed insaid cover member and having a concave conical diaphragmdisposed at and directed toward said opening in said bafiie, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baffle, a second cover member disposed below and covering said aperture and fastened to said baflie, a conical deflector supported in said second cover member and on the same axis as and substantially the same shape as said conical 'diaphragm, said deflector being spaced from said diaphragm and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, a plurality of apertures in said second cover member and having a total area at a means on said first mentioned cover member by which it may be hung.

7. The combination of a baflle having a substantially central aperture, a cover member disposed above and covering said aperture, means fastening said cover member and baliie together, a loud speaker unit disposed in said cover member and having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said baflie, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said bafiie, a second cover member disposed below and covering said aperture and fastened to said bafiie', a conical deflector supported in said second cover member and on the same axis as and substantially the same shape as said conical diaphragm, said deflector being spaced from said diaphragm and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, a plurality of apertures in said second cover member, and means on said first mentioned cover member by which it may be hung.

8. The combination of a battle having a substantially central aperture, a cover member disposed above and covering said aperture, means fastening said cover member and baflie together, a loud speaker unit disposed in said cover member and having a concave conical diaphragm disposed at and directed toward said opening in said baflle, means connecting the edge of said speaker unit with said baifie, a second cover member disposed below and covering said aperture and fastened to said baiile, a conical deflector supported in said second cover member and on the same axis as and substantially the same shape as said conical diaphragm, said deflector being spaced from said diaphragm and having its apex directed toward said diaphragm, and a plurality of apertures in said second cover member.

ASTON L. MOORE. 

